Bayville Beat
by Alina Blakesley

Birth #1 - Welcome Oliver James Alisdair Blakesley! Oliver is Alina Blakesley's first grandchild, birthed by her son Paul's wife, Meredith, on Friday, August 29 at 12:12 a.m. at South Shore Hospital, South Weymouth, Mass. He weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces.

Paul, Alina and Mary (Meredith's mother) were present in the birthing room. Labor was induced at 9 a.m. on Thursday. "I bet the time of birth will be 5 p.m.," said Mary. "No, I think it will be 9 p.m." said Alina. The attending nurse said "I think it will be midnight." We couldn't believe it would take that long and hoped she was mistaken. So we hunkered down and munched on Snickers candy bars and chips and waited, watching four episodes of "Law and Order" as well as Obama's acceptance speech. Thanks to the epidural drip to lessen labor pains, also known as "happydural," Merry was quite comfortable for most of the time. Babcia ("Grandmother" in Polish) Alina administered reflexology during labor. Grandma Mary Grimes gave reassurance, having had five of her own, and Paul gave comfort, support, ice chips and helped in the pushing phase.

Fortunately for Alina and her husband, Robert, the family lives in Carver, Mass. (near Plymouth) and make frequent visits in the summer and fall to the Duck Puddle Camp Ground owned by Meredith's family.

Birth # 2 - Welcome Mary Alice! Mary Alice is a Southport 30 traditional fiberglass lobster boat of the '50s era. It arrived at the Merrill's summer cottage unfinished with just the hull and engine, acquired from David Nutt, now Southport Island Marine. A family project, Greg, David, John, Nathanial and Caleb Merrill tackled the wiring, plumbing, painting; interior and deck finish with teak over four summers. Now it's ready for its first sea trials planned for end of September. They will check systems, especially its 310 HP Volvo diesel engine. The final launch is set for the summer of 2009.

The boat is named in honor of Mary Alice Jones, great-grandmother of David, Greg and John Merrill. She was one of three sisters who came to Bayville in 1892. Mary Alice married George Merrill from Melrose, Mass. The boat will give many hours of summer pleasure to the Merrill family and friends. It sleeps two and carries many, said John, and we are all hoping for an invite.

Kerin McDonough and Ian Mackechnie will be married at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Boothbay Harbor on September 10. The reception will be at Fisherman's Wharf. The McDon-oughs are preparing for a huge family gathering with Kathy and Mark Hahn and children Kaitlin and Joseph, Jimmy and Juliette Mc- Donough and children Brady and Ryan, and David and Christine McDonough who are expecting their first baby on October 4.